Real Arab Coffee Made Just Right Qahwa Mazbut
In the Eastern Arab World, coffee, or qahwa, a gift that the Arabs gave the world, is made thick and black in three styles: murra (bitter), which is drunk by the real coffee connoisseurs and is made without sugar; sukkar qalil (little sugar), made with 1 teaspoon of sugar; and mazbut (just right), made with […]
Omani Style Coffee Khawa
The sign of a great cup of coffee, such as this Omani-style coffee, is that it tastes as good as it smells—like a rich, spiced coffee. Hospitality in Oman begins with Khawa and a platter of dates. This strong brew, made with freshly ground coffee beans and aromatic cardamom, has a pleasantly bitter taste. For […]
Cardamom Spiced Hot Milk Haleeb ma’ Haal
Cardamom is what gives a unique twist to the classic cup of warm milk—a favorite night-time beverage around the world. It is also believed that Haleeb ma’ Haal, enjoyed throughout the United Arab Emirates, calms and relaxes the body, making it ideal for a restful night of sleep. Makes about three 8-ounce (250-ml) or 8 […]
Iced Yogurt Drink with Fresh Mint Laban
Laban has been described as being somewhat like “salty buttermilk.” It is a refreshing beverage and it is a great drink to serve with any type of meat dish. In the Middle East the attributes of yogurt have been appreciated since the dawn of history. The ancient Assyrians were enamored with yogurt so much that […]
Saudi-Style Shrimp ’n Rice Ruz bil Jambury
Just as meat with rice is popular in the Arab Gulf, the nationals have also incorporated the treasures of the sea with this important staple, as exemplified in this recipe. Shrimp dishes have become part of the national pride of the region. Traditionally, as a guest, one would be offered fish and rice dishes by […]
Elegant Sautéed Fish Fillets with Nutty Rice – Sayadia
The Arab East’s coastline has given Arab cuisine Saya dia, a dish of delicately spiced fish pieces fried with onions and spices that are baked over rice. Similar to a fish pilaf, Sayadia is also referred to as “fisherman’s food.” This version of Sayadia is found in Saudi Arabia. Although I have eaten it in […]
Whole Fish with Garlic and Fresh Coriander Hamour Mahshi
In Dubai, I, with a group of friends, enjoyed this dish in one of the people’s restaurants. Forget the fork and knife, it was finger-licking good! While I enjoyed my grouper, I thought of the long association of fish with Arab culinary tradition. From the storehouse of stories relating to fish, there is one of […]
Shrimp Balls in a Tangy Sauce Chebeh Rubyan
In the Arab Gulf countries, various seafood dishes come in many varieties. Crowning these are those made with shrimp. During my many trips to that part of the world there literally was no shrimp dish that I did not like. Usually prepared from fresh shrimp and moderately spiced, in the main, they were tasty and […]
Fried Fish with Spicy Rice Samak ‘Aysh
Local and regional dishes are slowly creeping onto the menus of Dubai’s large hotels and fine restaurants where they are often adapted by enthusiastic chefs for the tastes of tourists and to excellent results. By making local foods available to guests, they are insured an important place in Dubai’s culinary world, and allow expatriates and […]
Sautéed Fish Fillets with Lentils and Rice Makbous Samak
Besides roast lamb, the Arab Gulf countries are noted for their fish dishes. This tasty dish, popular in all the Arab Gulf countries, is an example of fish at its best. At times, it takes the place of roasted lamb for special occasions. This traditional dish is prepared with rice and either meat and/or seafood. […]